Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus

• US 6,016,160 A
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diversified Optical Products, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cairns & Brother, Inc.
• Inventors: Coombs, Christopher E., Richter, Robert J., Fordham, Andrew J., Peel, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/228,849
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61, 348/64, 348/73, 348/164, 348/169, 348/115, 348/143, 128/26, 128/202, 358/105, 358/229, 359/13, 359/410, 359/411, 359/480, 359/630
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0136 with a single image source for both eyes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/125 head-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features

Abstract

Combination head-protective helmet which includes a cap and an outwardly extending brim and thermal imaging apparatus which includes an infrared camera for producing an infrared image of a scene or object and a display system which generates a visible image of the scene or object from the infrared image, the camera is mounted underneath the brim of the protective helmet for protection against e.g. falling objects and the display system is mounted on the helmet in a position to permit a person wearing the combination to see the visible image.

Claims

1. Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus, for being worn by a person in a heated environment where stratified heat is present which increases vertically, comprising:

a head-protective helmet including a cap and a brim circumscribing said cap and extending downwardly and outwardly from said cap sufficiently to provide an envelope of reduced heat under said brim upon said head-protective helmet being present in said stratified heat;

thermal imaging apparatus including an infrared sensor camera for producing an infrared image of a scene or object and display apparatus which generates a visible image of said scene or object from said infrared image for viewing by the eyes of a person wearing said combination;

first mounting means for mounting said camera to said head-protective helmet substantially underneath said brim to protect said camera from falling objects striking said helmet and to cause said camera to substantially reside in said envelope of reduced heat to reduce the influence of said heated environment on said camera, said first mounting means mounting said infrared sensor camera to said head-protective helmet to locate said infrared sensor to the side of the face of said person wearing said combination; and

second mounting means for mounting said display apparatus to said helmet in a position to permit the eyes of said person to see said visible image.

2. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said helmet includes an outer hard shell and an inner deformable cap mounted removably to said outer shell and wherein said first and second mounting means are for mounting said camera and said display systems to said inner deformable cap whereby said camera and said display system remain on said inner deformable cap in the event said outer shell is separated from said inner deformable cap.

3. Combination according to claim 2 wherein head-protective helmet further comprises a shroud mounted removably to said helmet and extending downwardly therefrom and wherein said first mounting means are for mounting said camera on said shroud generally underneath said brim.

4. Combination according to claim 2 wherein said second mounting means reside within said shroud and are for mounting said camera generally within said shroud.

5. Combination according to claim 2 wherein said second mounting means are for mounting said display apparatus on said shroud.

6. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said first mounting means mount said camera for rotation in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

7. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said second mounting means mount said display apparatus for movement in the horizontal and vertical directions.

8. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination further includes a generally curved protective shield mounted to said brim and extending outwardly and downwardly over at least a portion of said camera to further protect said camera from said falling objects and to shield said camera from said stratified heat.

9. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said display system has a field of view having a centerline and wherein said centerline is displaced downwardly at an angle with respect to the horizontal.

10. Combination according to claim 9 wherein said angle is between 0°

to about 10°

.

11. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said helmet brim is provided with an integrally formed portion extending outwardly and downwardly over at least a portion of said camera to further protect said camera from said falling objects and to shield said camera from said stratified heat.

12. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination further includes a first fire protective insulated jacket for covering said camera and a second fire protective insulated jacket for covering said display apparatus, said first fire protective insulated jacket being slightly larger and complementary in shape to the shape of said camera and said second fire protective insulated jacket being slightly larger and complementary in shape to the shape of said display apparatus.

13. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination further includes a substantially transparent face shield mounted pivotally to said helmet and wherein said display apparatus is mounted to said face shield.

14. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination further comprises elastic or adjustable straps mounted to said helmet and which straps mount said display apparatus to said helmet.

15. Combination according to claim 1 wherein said camera imparts torque to said helmet causing fatigue to the head of said person and wherein said combination further includes a counter balance mounted to said helmet substantially opposite said camera and substantially equal in weight to said camera and said counter balance imparting torque to said helmet substantially canceling said torque imparted by said camera and substantially eliminating said fatigue to said head of said person.

16. Combination according to claim 15 wherein said helmet includes an outer hard shell and an inner deformable cap mounted removably to said outer shell and wherein said counter balance is mounted to said inner deformable cap.

17. Combination according to claim 15 wherein said helmet includes a shroud mounted removably to said helmet and extending downwardly therefrom, and wherein said camera and said counter balance are mounted to said shroud.

18. Combination according to claim 15 wherein said helmet includes a hard outer shell and a deformable inner cap mounted removably to said outer shell and wherein said counter balance is mounted to said inner deformable cap.

19. Combination according to claim 18 wherein said display apparatus includes a television tube, signal processing means for receiving thermal image signals from said camera and for converting said thermal image signals to TV signals for transmission to said television tube to cause said television tube to produce a visible television image of said scene or object carried by light rays emanating from said television tube, a pair of eyepieces and optical means through which said light rays are transmitted to said eyepieces, said optical means for converting said TV image to a pair of intermediate real images of said scene or object in advance of said pair of eyepieces, said pair of eyepieces for converting said pair of intermediate real images to a pair of virtual images of said scene or object for viewing by the eyes of said person through said eyepieces.

20. Combination according to claim 19 wherein said optical system includes a field flattener lens mounted in front of said television tube, a beam splitter, a relay lens group mounted intermediate said field flattener lens and said beam splitter and a pair of field lens mounted intermediate said beam splitter and said eyepieces, and wherein said pair of eyepieces comprise a pair of aspheric lens.

21. Combination according to claim 19 wherein said camera has a real view field angle and wherein said virtual images have a virtual image field angle and wherein said field angles are substantially equal whereby said virtual images of said scene or object are substantially the same as the size of said scene or object of which said camera produces said infrared image.